This contest has taken over facebook rather quickly this afternoon. One of my favorite yarn suppliers Unplanned Peacock is having a contest to win a bunch of free yarn. Please clickie the link if you are interested in the yarn (or even if you're just looking for something to gift me with). Apparently the people who have the most entries based on their personalized link win something... http://woobox.com/hpxvm7/9jp4i6

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At University I took attack_laurel's class on Elizabethan Hairstyles. Even before the class was over I was inspired to do something cool for my Halloween costume. Well here is the result:

The wonderful eridun took the pictures for me. The rest of the costume was only so so, but okay I guess:

I made the bracelet out of lapis pieces, then put matching lapis pieces in my hair. I also made an icord belt, which is not the belt I originally planned on but it worked. I needed the belt because I was wearing one of LLT's dresses - the sleeves actually dragged on the ground. eridun made me the earrings and I made the hairsticks from beads I bought off ebay a few years ago.

The weird part is that I put those flower shapped bead caps under every piece of lapis in my hair and when I pulled out the hairpins some of the beadcaps were missing. They aren't on the floor around where I took down my hair, and I've washed both my hair and the dress since then without finding them. I guess they are well and truly gone. Who knew my hair has an appetite for jewelry?

P.S. Is it wrong that my favorite pic is the one of the back of my hair???

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Today one of my facebook friends posted a youtube video of entitled: Squirrel, Child, Greyhound....Unnexpected. I admit I clicked on it thinking there was a chance that I'd get to see a greyhound chase prey - something that while maybe not pleasant I have a curiosity about since I've never seen the greyhounds run like that. Instead (for those who don't want to click) it's a little girl (I'd say somewhere around 5) who is only wearing underwear playing with a dead squirrel that her apparently recently adopted greyhound killed. Her father is filming and laughing and asking questions while her mother (I'm assuming these are who the adults are) seems to be uncomfortable and then leaves.

My immediate response was What kind of morons let their small child play with a dead wild animal and let her basically rub it against her all but naked body? Let alone tape it and post to youtube???

This of course started a big conversation which my friend eventually requested we stop.

So of course I'm bringing it to MY LJ to rant about...I'm not going to copy any of the other comments, being that they are not mine, but suffice to say that there were several different opinions which went from agreeing with me to thinking I was completely unreasonable. So let's go over the hot buttons shall we?

Parents:1) Please think about the message you are sending: One of the debates was whether the parents were encouraging their child or not. I say this video represents positive reinforcement as much as any human feeding a begging dog does. The father is videotaping, something he's obviously done before and the child enjoys (based on the instant response to "say hello" at the end of the video. He's asking questions in a cutesy voice and laughing. It isn't until the Mom says "respect" and drives off that he tells his daughter to leave the squirrel alone and talks about burying it. At this point the kid thinks that playing with a dead animal is approved of and gets the "reward" of being filmed etc.

2) Don't encourage your child to play with wild animals - seriously, while apparently rabies is not a major concern with squirrels there are other diseases that can be conveyed by wild animals (not to mention the whole biting thing if it's still alive). I did a quick google of "squirrel disease to human" and found that they can carry fleas known to carry plague, not to mention a series of other diseases. Yes it's true that many of these diseases are uncommon but do you really want your child to be the "one in XXXX"? Just because this one is dead doesn't mean you're not sending the message that playing with wild animals is okay.

3) Don't encourage your child to play with dead things - really? I need to post this? okay the whole flea thing - fleas tend to jump OFF dead animals and guess where they're gonna land - on your child who is rubbing the squirrel all over her chest as she plays with it. Just because this one is a fresh kill doesn't mean the next one will be. You've sent the message that playing with dead animals is okay...not that THIS one is okay. Also ewwww. Yes there is the argument that people eat wild animals but still it's not a good idea to encourage your child to just play with one.

5) Don't let your Greyhound run around without a leash: Compared to the rest of this post, this point is low scale but it's something to consider. As most of you know I dog-sit greyhounds for one of the most responsible dog owners I know (flt/devilvern). They have had rescue greyhounds for years (at one point they had 3) and I've been dog-sitting for them almost as long as they've had the dogs. One of the things that was drilled into my head early was you don't let sight hounds who have been bred for generations and then trained to chase small furry creatures outside a fenced area without being on a leash. Really I don't care how well trained you think your beloved pet is - it doesn't matter. It's not worth the risk of losing your dog when instinct takes over.

Okay rant over, I think I've covered most of it - although I wouldn't put it past me to start up again...for example I haven't even started on my belief that how you treat the dead (even animals) directly effects your melant'i.

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So have you guys heard about harmonyhay's Peacock Dress Challenge? I'm still amazed by what she's doing. harmonyhay is the creator of the OMG Oak Leaf Dress from Costume College a few years ago. She has entered a fundraising competition to go to Haiti to help build a community center. She and her Sig O have to raise $14,000 in order to go. In order to encourage people to donate, she's challenged herself to recreate the Peacock Dress which is completely beaded and the height of insanity and wear it to 2012's Costume College (and I don't even know where/when it is). This is big enough I'm considering trying to figure out a way to get to that event just to see it in person. In the meantime since I've donated a small amount I'll get to read about her progress. :)

(Post originally seen in this post by ramblin_phyl. I have been notified that it was originally posted by suricattus in her journal post. The story and words are hers, but I do believe that it needs to go viral and that as many people as possible need to get their stories out there. Only by making a noise about this can we make a change in our society.)

There is a move afoot in the nation -driven by the GOP - to repeal the new health care laws, to protect corporate interests, to defend against fear-mongering (and stupid) cries of "socialism!", and to ensure that people are forced to choose between keeping a roof over their heads or getting necessary health care.

This movement is killing people.

Think I'm overstating the fact?

Ask the friends and family of writer/reviewer Melissa Mia Hall, who died of a heart attack last week because she was so terrified of medical bills, she didn't go see a doctor who could have saved her life.

From another writer friend: One person. Not the only one. That could have been me. Yeah, I have access to insurance -- I live in New York City, which is freelancer-friendly, and have access to freelancer advocacy groups. Through them, I can pay over $400/month ($5,760/year) as a single, healthy woman, so that if I go to the hospital I'm not driven to bankruptcy. But a doctor's appointment - a routine physical - can still cost me several hundred dollars each visit. So unless something's terribly wrong? I won't go.

My husband worked for the government for 30 years. We have government employee (retired) insurance. It is the only thing of value he took away from that job. His pension is pitiful. He still works part time. My writing income has diminished drastically. Our combined income is now less than what it was before T retired fifteen years ago. Inflation has diminished it further. In the last 30 days I have racked up over $8000 in medical bills for tests and the beginning of treatment. Our co-pay is 20% after the deductible. And there is more to come. Our savings are already gone. I have the gold standard of insurance and I still can't pay all the medical bills.

Another friend lost her insurance when her husband lost his job. She couldn't afford medication and ended up bed ridden for three months at the end of over a year of no job and therefore no insurance until he found work again.

It's our responsibility. All of us, together. As a nation.

EtA: Nobody is trying to put insurance companies out of business. They will always be able to offer a better plan for a premium. We simply want to ensure that every citizen - from infant to senior citizen - doesn't have to choose between medical care, and keeping a roof over their heads, or having enough to eat.

We're trying to get this to go viral. Pass it along.

My story? Let's see...a bunch of years ago I promised a friend that I would seek out some help for my depression other than medication. I haven't done it mostly because I'm afraid of the bills. I've ruined my teeth with too many cough drops during past coughing seasons and need to see a dentist who will I'm sure say that at least half of them need to go but I don't go because in addition to being afraid of the dentist I'm more afraid of the bill at a time when I just can't afford another one. When I was unemployed I adjusted all of my meds and only kept up the ones that I could afford - luckily I had a doctor who made that slightly easier by giving me every sample she had of my meds when I told her it was my last appointment and why.

I live in fear that someday I'm going to lose my access to a company health insurance and have to go individual because I have a friend who was denied the ability to buy it for some of the same pre-existing conditions that I have.

Yes the healthcare bill is not perfect. Some of that imperfection was caused by negotiations with the health insurance industry who insisted they would go out of business if they didn't get those provisions in the deal. But do we really expect to ever see any healthcare reform (let alone a better one) if this one goes away?

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Team Wench will hold its Tenth Annual Privateer Feast “To Save theTreasured Chest” benefiting breast cancer awareness and research onSaturday, March 5th, 2011 from 6:00 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. Join us inour endeavor to reach new heights with “Ten Years of the Best Supporta Boobie Ever Had!”

Team Wench will be returning to last year's venue, the EarleighHeights Volunteer Fire Company (VFC) in Severna Park, Maryland. Itshuge galley and well-stocked hold will be serving up plenty ofmouth-watering dishes to satisfy your hunger. Hungry, or should I sayTHIRSTY, for more than a fine meal? The grog will flow freely againthis year and yer still welcome to bring yer own wondrous libations.If you prefer to wet yer whistle with libations of a softer nature,not to worry, we'll have plenty of options on-hand. How will you bideyour time on this voyage? We've shanghaied the best in piraticalentertainment and plundered quite a bit of rare & valuable swag justfor you to bid on. So pack yer sea chest or grab your ditty bag andprepare to set sail!

Feast tickets will go on sale through TicketLeap beginning Friday,January 14 at Noon for the Early Bird Price $50 (plus TicketLeapFees). Be sure to buy your tickets before Monday, February 14 at 11:59p.m EST to get the Early Bird price.

If you wait til February 15 you can still buy Feast tickets, but atthe Regular Price of $60 (plus TicketLeap Fees). Tickets will beavailable at this price until Wednesday, March 2 at 6:00 p.m. EST.